European Championship - day four, quarter-finals review

Phil Taylor produced the highest ever average in a major tournament to knock Gary Anderson out of the 2009 European Championship in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands, to reach Sunday evening's semi-finals.

Defending champion Taylor fired ten 180s as he compiled a 118.14 average in a devastating display against the Scotsman - who average 106.12 - and faces Jelle Klaasen in the first semi-final.

"I'm always striving to better myself," said Taylor.

"Gary hit a lot of 180s out there and I had to play that well to beat him."

Klaasen defeated Colin Lloyd in the opening quarter-final of the day while Steve Beaton will face world number two James Wade in the second semi-final - Beaton seeing off Mark Walsh and Wade repeating his Premier League final win over Mervyn King, with the semi-finals beginning at 7pm (6pm UK).

Jelle Klaasen 10-5 Colin Lloyd

Jelle Klaasen beat Colin Lloyd 10-5 to reach the semi-finals of the 2009 European Championship.

The game was evenly poised at 5-5 before Klaasen clicked into gear to win five legs on the trot and set up a semi-final clash with the winner the quarter-final between defending champion Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson.

"I like playing Colin as he's a quick player too and he missed a few chances but I played well and can't wait to play the semi-final," said Klaasen.

"We traded 11-darters in the middle of the match but I stepped up a gear after the break."

Klaasen had six darts at 40 to hold in the first leg but squandered them and Lloyd took advantage to take out 44 and break before replicating the Dutchman's profligacy to allow Klaasen to level with a break of his own.

The home favourite then missed six darts to hold his throw and Lloyd pounced once more before moving 3-1 up with a 13-dart leg.

Klaasen responded in style though, holding his throw before taking out 140 to level matters and moving 4-3 ahead with his first 180.

Lloyd pulled the scores level with a 180 of his own but Jelle moved into the break with the lead thanks to an 11-dart leg.

That was the first of three 11-dart legs in a row, with Klaasen claiming his second to begin the five-leg winning streak that would see him knock Colin out.

Phil Taylor 10-3 Gary Anderson

Phil Taylor recorded the highest ever average in a major tournament to storm into the semi-finals with a 10-3 victory over Gary Anderson.

The defending champion fired ten 180s as he compiled a 118.14 average in a devastating display against the Scotsman, who average 106.12.

"I'm always striving to better myself," said Taylor.

"Gary hit a lot of 180s out there and I had to play that well to beat him."

Anderson began the match with a 180 to put Taylor under pressure but he fired thee ton-plus scores to hold his throw.

Taylor hit his first maximum to return the favour but Anderson found two 140s and checked out 62 to level the match.

A 62 checkout from Taylor was followed by a 116 from Anderson to make it 2-2, before Taylor shifted into top gear to run away with the game.

Four ton-plus scores in the fifth leg moved Taylor in front and he recorded the first of four 11-dart legs to move two clear of Anderson.

Anderson missed the bull for a 116 checkout and Taylor moved 5-2 ahead with double twelve, making that 6-2 with two maximums and an 81 checkout in his second 11-dart leg.

A 12-dart leg gave Taylor a five-leg advantage at the break and he took out 124 on the bull to move 8-2 ahead, with his third 11-dart leg taking him to within one leg of victory.

Anderson pulled one leg back but Taylor finished the game off with his tenth 180 kicking-off his final 11-dart leg and he now faces Jelle Klaasen in the first semi-final.

Steve Beaton 10-6 Mark Walsh

Steve Beaton continued his fine run of form to reach the semi-finals of the 2009 European Championship with a 10-6 quarter-final win over Mark Walsh.

Beaton ended an eight-year wait for a tournament with a win in the Players Championship in Nuland last weekend and moved into the semis with a fine display against Walsh.

"I was terrible yesterday but I was in a different frame of mind today and I'm delighted to get through," said Beaton.

"I played some good stuff out there and I've got my sights on the final and getting into the Grand Slam now."

The first six legs of the game went with throw before Beaton registered the first break of the match with an 86 checkout in the seventh leg and then stretched his lead to 5-3 in the eighth, missing tops for a 160 checkout but returning to clean up the leg.

The following two legs went Beaton's way to see him move 7-3 in front and the remaining legs went with throw, with Walsh missing tops to break Beaton in the only chance either player offered as Steve marched into the semis.

James Wade 10-6 Mervyn King

James Wade claimed the last semi-final place after beating Mervyn King 10-6 in a repeat of his Premier League final triumph.

Wade faces Steve Beaton in the second semi-final on Sunday evening thanks to a powerful display which saw him miss double 12 for a nine-dart finish in the sixth leg.

"I haven't had the chance to hit a nine-darter for a while and I thought I nailed it but it wasn't to be - I'm delighted to get to the semis though," said Wade.

Wade set his stall out with a break of throw in the opening leg and took out 90 to move 2-0 in front. King retaliated with a hold of throw in the third leg but Wade hit four 180s in the next three legs to move 5-1 ahead - narrowly missing a nine-darter in the process - and took out 110 to stretch his lead to five legs.

King stopped the rot with three 100s to take the eighth leg but Wade replied with three ton-plusses to restore his five-leg lead at the break.

Mervyn returned with an 11-dart leg to break Wade, but James issued a 12-dart riposte.

Another 11-dart leg gave King his fourth leg but Wade fired a 106 checkout for the fourth break of throw in a row.

King threatened a comeback with consecutive 15-dart legs taking him to three behind Wade but a 100 followed by a 180 gave James a sure footing in the 16th leg and Wade took out double ten to clinch the final spot in Sunday afternoon's semi.

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